Ralph Fiennes: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

2. Ignatz Sonnenschein / Adam Sors / Ivan Sors - Sunshine (1999)

It must have felt something like karmic relief for Fiennes to star in István Szabó's Sunshine. A three hour saga that follows three generations of the same Jewish family from the late 1800s to the aftermath of the Second World War, this is Fiennes' epic reprieve from the ghost of Amon Goeth. Sunshine is rarely talked about but not easily forgotten once you see it. While the story is gripping to the point of never making you feel the length, and it's supported by wonderful performances from Jennifer Ehle, Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz and William Hurt, it's the talent of Ralph Fiennes that truly shines like the sun. If someone is ever foolish enough to challenge you on the truth of Ralph Fiennes' acting range, you'd best make them watch Sunshine where he plays the three main protagonists of each era; the grandfather, the father and the son of the same family tree. He brings something slightly different to each role; starting with the pencil-pushing judge Ingatz and his love of the Empire, to the fiercely passionate and proud Olympic champion Adam and ending with the intensely conflicted and lost Ivan. It's an awkward, tragic, beautiful, fervent, demure and intense performance all on display and perfect control in one film. After it's over, you know that only someone like Ralph Fiennes could have pulled it off.